Ever-present defender will miss crucial game with muscle tear

Thirty games this season, and it is just February. That’s a lot of football and no wonder it has resulted in, finally, an injury ruling out West Ham’s loaned-out centre back from action in next week’s crucial Real Sociedad v Barcelona fixture.

Nayef Aguerd has been so successful in Spain that Sociedad have deployed their own-loan Hammer mercilessly, using him in 19 La Liga fixtures, 9 Europa League matches and 2 domestic ‘Copa del Ray’ cup games. One more even than Hammer’s ever present Max Kilman. But finally the miles – or kilometres – have caught up with the Moroccan and he’s gaping to miss at least the next fixture.

“The centre-back, who played a key role in the team’s defensive structure, was forced off the pitch in the 32nd minute during the recent clash against Leganes. A medical assessment confirmed that he has suffered a minor muscle tear, ruling him out of the upcoming fixture.”

Hopefully his muscle injury will not cause long-term damage. Whether he stays at Real Sociedad – unlikely owing to his likely sale value now – or comes back to London Stadium he is likely to be an important part of West Ham’s summer rebuild.

A sale would add £25 plus million back into the transfer pot for Graham Potter in the summer, unless the Hammers Manager decides to keep him as the missing ‘fourth man’ in West Ham’s centre back line-up. That is, as long as he’s not flogged to death in the meantime!

From the old Bobby Moore Upper to the Billy Bonds’ stand these days I’ve been watching since ’03 and a supporter since about 1970.. Don’t take my comments too seriously, imagine we are having a chat at half time over a pint at L S and”let’s disagree without falling out”.

The Hammers head coach obviously sees the big 29-year-old as a vital cog in his machine, both defensively and inside the final third.